Hong Kong had long been a British colony. Western cultural influences started early and seeped into people’s daily life as early as the 1920s.

Cultural influences from the West took an upward turn in the 1950s, firstly through films. During the time when Wong Jum-sum grew up, the number of Western films on show every year was never less than 200. The West was also prominent in radio broadcast. Thanks to the work of progressive radio show hosts like Aileen Woods and Uncle Ray, a whole generation came to be exposed to all styles and genres of Western pop music. They helped to nurture a world where one could embrace simultaneously the diverse sound and sentiments of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Benny Goodman. A new collective outlook was thus embodied in the skin and bone of the baby boomer generation.

Anything You Can Do (1950)

Composer: Irving Berlin
Lyricist: Irving Berlin
Vocalists:
Betty Hutton (as Annie Oakley),
Howard Keel (as Frank Butler)

(A) Anything you can do,
I can do better.
I can do anything
Better than you.
(F) No, you can't.
(A) Yes, I can.
(F) No, you can't.
(A) Yes, I can.
(F) No, you can't.
(A) Yes, I can, Yes, I can!

(F) Anything you can be
I can be greater.
Sooner or later,
I'm greater than you.
(A) No, you're not.
(F) Yes, I am.
(A) No, you're not.
(F) Yes, I am.
(A) No, you're NOT!.
(F) Yes, I am. Yes, I am!

(F) I can shoot a partridge
With a single cartridge.
(A) I can get a sparrow
With a bow and arrow.
(F) I can live on bread and cheese.
(A) And only on that?
(F) Yes.
(A) So can a rat!

(F) Any note you can reach
I can go higher.
(A) I can sing anything
Higher than you.
(F) No, you can't. (High)
(A) Yes, I can. (Higher)
(F) No, you can't. (Higher)
(A) Yes, I can. (Higher)
(F) No, you can't. (Higher)
(A) Yes, I can. (Higher)
(F) No, you can't. (Higher)
(A) Yes, I can. (Higher)
(F) No, you can't. (Higher)
(A) Yes, I CAN! (Highest)

(A) Anything you can buy
I can buy cheaper.
I can buy anything
Cheaper than you.
(F) Fifty cents?
(A) Forty cents!
(F) Thirty cents?
(A) Twenty cents!
(F) No, you can't!
(A) Yes, I can,Yes, I can!

(F) Anything you can say
I can say softer.
(A) I can say anything
Softer than you.
(F) No, you can't. (Softly)
(A) Yes, I can. (Softer)
(F) No, you can't. (Softer)
(A) Yes, I can. (Softer)
(F) No, you can't. (Softer)
(A) Yes, I can. (Softer)
YES, I CAN! (Full volume)

(F) I can drink my liquor
Faster than a flicker.
(A) I can drink it quicker
And get even sicker!
(F) I can open any safe.
(A) Without bein' caught?
(F) Sure.
(A) That's what I thought---you crook!

(F) Any note you can hold
I can hold longer.
(A) I can hold any note
Longer than you.
(F) No, you can't.
(A) Yes, I can.
(F) No, you can't.
(A) Yes, I can
(F) No, you can't.
(A) Yes, I can
(A) Yes, I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I
(F) No, you C-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-N'T--
(A) CA-A-A-A-N! (Cough, cough!)
(F) Yes, you ca-a-a-an!

(A) Anything you can wear
I can wear better.
In what you wear
I'd look better than you.
(F) In my coat?
(A) In your vest!
(F) In my shoes?
(A) In your hat!
(F) No, you can't!
(A) Yes, I can. Yes, I CAN!

(F) Anything you say
I can say faster.
(A) I can say anything
Faster than you.
(F) No, you can't. (Fast)
(A) Yes, I can. (Faster)
(F) No, you can't. (Faster)
(A) Yes, I can. (Faster)
(F) Noyoucan't. (Faster)
(A) YesIcan! (Fastest)

(F) I can jump a hurdle.
(A) I can wear a girdle.
(F) I can knit a sweater.
(A) I can fill it better!
(F) I can do almost anything!
(A) Can you bake a pie?
(F) No.
(A) Neither can I.

(F) Any note you can sing
I can sing sweeter.
(A) I can sing anything
(A) Sweeter than you.
(F) No, you can't. (Sweetly)
(A) Yes, I can. (Sweeter)
(F) No, you can't. (Sweeter)
(A) Yes, I can. (Sweeter)
(F) No, you can't. (Sweeter)
(A) Yes, I can. (Sweeter)
(F) No, you can't. (Sweeter)
(A) Yes, I can. (Sweeter)
(F) No, you can't, can't, can't (sweeter)
(A) Yes, I can, can, can (Sugary)

(A) Yes, I can!
(F) No, you can't!